What A Mess

Apparently, God dropped his palette and the colors got smeared all over Sardine Canyon. Sheesh.

The Cache Valley Photographers and I boogied up there this morning to take advantage of the incredible weather and the clear, smoke-free skies. It was well worth the early call. I hope you get out and take a drive to enjoy one of the best Autumns we've ever had. It's happening right now in the canyons, and I'm predicting next week will be great here in the valley. Try not to trip over my tripod legs when you're out there...

Nikon D800, 300mm f/4 lens, f/8, 1/6s, ISO 100, Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Family

I really enjoy this work. Reading my blog, I talk a load about what I like, and why I like it, and what food I eat when I travel. It gets to sounding like a lot of 'me'. I write that stuff because I want you to know me a bit, I want you know who I am and I want you to like me so that you'll hire me to make pictures for you, which means I'll have earned money to take care of my own little family. That's pretty much my goal: make pictures and provide for my family.

The thing is, these pictures are not about me, and they are not for me. 

Take the S. family, for instance. This wonderful bunch doesn't care who I am--they just care about each other--a lot. Big J. just left to serve a mission and I made these pictures for his family before he left. He has them with him, and they have them at home. They all get to remember their love while they're apart. And that's what the pictures are for. I'm just lucky enough to be a part and share some fun times making the pictures. I'm just lucky enough to have clients, and I thank you all for that.

Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR IIlens @ 130mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 400, Nik Color Efex Pro.

The Big Dipper

My pal, Justin, suggested we go up to White Pine lake last night during the New Moon to photograph star trails. Well, we got to Tony Grove and didn't make it any farther. The new moon means there's no moon light to detract from the star light and as the night deepened we were surrounded by a wonderful nightscape, blanketed in stars, and drowned in the Milky Way.

I made a few mistakes which turned into happy surprises. I'll be heading up there again, soon, too try some purposeful mistakes again.

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @24mm, f/4, 1s to 30s HDR, ISO 800, Nik HDR Efex Pro 2.

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 15mm, f/2.8, 792s & 291s HDR, ISO 6400 and 800, Nik HDR Efex Pro 2.

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/2.8, 290s, ISO 400.

Punch Bowl

My pal Megan suggested we all hike to Punch Bowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge last week. Obviously, Jenn and I thought this was a great idea, and we had a lovely time hiking and making pictures. I made a bunch of panoramas of the falls and the surrounds, and I'll share them here...when I get them put together! There's a lot of work to be done after that shutter button is activated, and it's fun; it just takes time. You know that saying, "Tempus fugit (time flies)"? Well, there should be one about time going by like water over a falls...

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @28mm, f/16, 1/100s, ISO 100, Nik HDR Efex Pro.

The Road Already Travelled

In Frost's famous poem, the speaker chooses which fork to take as a road diverges in the forest. He/she weighs the advantages of both, and ends up choosing one and finds that the choosing is the most important thing, not which road was taken. I notice that there's no mention of turning around to look back down the road from which he/she came--no thought of going back. That's significant, too.

If one did look back, it might look like this.

I made this image at Perpetua Point on the Oregon Coast yesterday. The fog was fickle, playing in and out and teasing my light meter mercilessly. Nonetheless, I like the feel of this image, and I think it looks like everything I like about the Coast: small roads winding through the hills, fog dodging in and out, and the ever intense greenyness filling my vision. I was fortunate enough to walk both branches of this fork without the choosing: it's a turn around atop the hill.

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/80s, ISO 100.

Monsoon

One of the things I really miss about living in Colorado Springs is the incredible thunderstorms in the summer afternoons. The power and the colors and the movement are so intriguing. I was so happy to have just such a storm happen last night while visiting my parents. There will be more to come, including some images made at Garden of the Gods with the lightning striking.

I love that I can share photographs of this stuff with you!

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens, f/7.1, 15s, ISO 320, frame capture from time lapse movie mode.

Madonna and Child

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 36mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex 4.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little...

This is one image from an ice skating competition I recently photographed with Gary Bird. A division of labor, you could call it. Gary photographs the skaters during their performance, and I make fine portraits while they're all done up in their outfits. It's really fun to see these kids perform after working so hard--and it really is hard! High school athletes practice for some time before their competitions each season. These kids--little kids!--practice at least four times a week year round! It really takes huge dedication from both parents and skaters, and i'm glad I can be there to help record their efforts.

Plus, they're stinkin' cute.

Nikon D800, 70-200mm F/2.8 VRII lens @ 200mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 100.

New Brother

This is Turbo. He's having trouble saying his C's, but it's cute 'cause he's two. The littler one is C., and she's 6...days old. Turbo is still adjusting to the situation, I think. In another picture he was supposed to give her a kiss, and he put his mouth right close to her head and then looked like he was about to bite into it like an apple...

He'll adjust.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @100mm, f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Harbinger

If you look through this blog, you won't see newborn babies in pea pods dangling from a snagly branch over the raging surf during a beautiful sunset. It's not that I don't think that wouldn't be a beautiful (if insanely dangerous) picture...it's just not my style.

My style is usually mom and dad with their little kiddo, brother and sister with the new sibling--these pictures I love, and I can interact with and make a more real picture. There's only so much emotion I can elicit from a crocheted owl touque.

But I do enjoy making pictures with meaningful objects, stuff from the family, stuff that might be with the kid for a while. Grandma's blanket, dad's christening clothes, mom's teddy bear, the blanket auntie made. These things have more meaning, and help tie an image to the past, to the family. I dig that.

And this little guy sure dug it, too, when we swaddled him in dad's high school football jersey. Something about all that old sweat and grass stains must be comforting.

Nikon D800, 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 98mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Headless Chickens

Ever feel like one of those? It's been the busiest summer of my life. I returned the other day from a wonderful conference in Chicago where i got to teach alongside one of the greatest photographers in the world, I just photographed the birth of a brand new baby girl (all natural for mom--wow!), and I finally moved past my stigma of winning third place in the Logan Summerfest Plein Aire Photography Competition.

I initiated the competition three years ago, and for the last two years I've earned third place. Heck, I picked the judges and couldn't win! Well, this year, I didn't pick the judges, and not only did I not get third, but I did get First and Second places. I was floored and honored. 

And someone just reminded me that didn't even post those images here! So, first and second respectively. 

Father and Son

Yep, it's another Cat Stevens quote. But what could be more apt? 

Having K. and little R. in the studio was such a pleasure. We played and played and played. I've just sorted through the images, and I've still got over 100 unique expressions from this kid! Man, that was fun.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/9, 1/200s, ISO 200, Nik Color Efex 4.

I love Seniors!

Take these two sisters, for instance. Somehow, being a senior in high school is a license to look great in pictures. See, most of us usually feel like we are going to look silly in a picture--that's really the great fear, that we won't look good. 

But whenever I get together with people we always lighten up and make pictures that not only look good, but we also have a good time making them! With S. and K. my cheeks were sore from smiling and laughing so much. 

Finally!

Last fall O. and S. joined my class as models for an evening. We made some great pictures for them, and were eagerly awaiting their wedding to do it again. Well, yesterday I finally got to make some formals for them in their wedding garb. Always a pleasure to make pictures fro such wonderful people.

This is just a quick sneak peek...

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @105mm, f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 400, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Brontosaurus

Did you know there's a dinosaur in the Chicago O'Hare airport? Yeah. I know.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @230mm, f/7.1, 1/40s, ISO 1600.

Enjoy

Sam has always loved the '66 Mustang. I must say, there is something very nice about it. It's the one without the bars surrounding the grille ornament, and it's got the pony interior...and this one happens to be red. 

Photographing someone who has a connection with a car like this is an experience itself. Maybe a little connection and nostalgia leaks into the images. Maybe a little lightheartedness emerges. Maybe some memories lighten the eyes. Maybe, if you can keep your head out of the lens bag, you'll catch a little of the wildness and passion for which Mustangs are known.

Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @ 145mm, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 400.

Relax

There's something about reclining in a car and hanging your feet out the window...

Nikon D800, 35mm f/1.8 lens, f/3.2, 1/200s, ISO 800.

Cruising Time!

Each year this week we have that wonderful Cache Valley Cruise In when classic cars from around the world converge on the fair grounds. Basically, they come to show off. And that's good for a guy like me, cause I get to see some stuff worth showing off, then do my own showing off right here. It's a nice little narcissistic circle. 

So, here's my first sampling from the show. I'm so glad that J. has once again agreed to come out and play picture making with me. She always makes this a fun adventure--working with creatives always makes the best pictures, and J. oozes creativity daily. 

Of course, I'm not just out to play! This is serious business: we have a contest to enter, after all. This is the second year we've had the Cruise In photo contest going. The rules are simple: make a picture during the Cruise In, then turn it in to be judged during the Gallery Walk on July 20th. All are welcome, and the more the merrier. I hope to see your work there, too!

Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @ 135mm, f/4.5, 1/200s, ISO 800.

Twins

I seriously love working with teenagers. They have so much flare, and can really ham it up. This shoot was no different. S. and K. are twin sisters, though not identical and it's been so fun getting to know them and their relationship. I think you can get a feel for them here...

Morning Has Broken

I love Cat Stevens' songs, and I can't help the cheesiness of using it here. Still, there it is. Click to enjoy--after you enjoy my picture!

I sent a note to members of the CVP last night, and five of them joined me for an early landscaping adventure. This is a quick favorite from the trip. Back by 8:30, and still a full day ahead! Perfect.

Nikon D800, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/22, 9 stop HDR, ISO 400.